Russian-Ukrainian Trade Grows

At least 70 percent of Ukrainian imports from Russia are energy sources. In the period from January to February 2003 Ukrainian energy imports amounted to more than $817m, the press service of the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers told RBC.

The negative balance in trade with Russia was $676.4m in the reported period. The surplus would have been $140.9m, if energy imports had not been taking into account, the press service said. On the whole, Ukrainian imports from Russia were $1.166bn in the first two months of 2003, which was $370m higher than in the corresponding period of last year.

Ukrainian exports in the reported period advanced by $63m to $490.4m. The trade volume between the two countries was $1.657bn in the first two months of this year, which was a $433.2m gain compared to the period from January to February 2002.